Trocar safety cap

ABSTRACT

A safety cap for use with a trocar, the cap including an opening in the cap adapted to receive a trocar therein, a releasable lock mechanism disposed within the opening, and a permanent lock mechanism disposed within the opening. The safety cap may be provided on a trocar, the releasable locking mechanism being actuated to release the trocar from the cap. After use, the trocar may be reinserted into the safety cap and permanently locked therein by the permanent locking mechanism, thereby providing for safe disposal of the used trocar.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the present invention relates to a safety cap for use on apointed object. More particularly, the present invention relates to asafety cap for a trocar device, wherein the cap includes a releasablelock mechanism and a permanent lock mechanism and is adapted to coverthe pointed end of the trocar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A major concern for health care professionals, including doctors,physician assistants, nurses, and medical technicians, is their ownpersonal safety while providing medical care to others. Often, thesehealth care professionals are required to perform procedures on patientswho have transmittable diseases and pathogens, such as HIV, Hepatitis B,Hepatitis C, staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria, as well asothers. Surgery, in particular, presents significant risks to doctorsand nurses because they must use sharp instruments in confined spaces,with the instruments becoming covered in the patient's own blood, serum,bile, and pus. If a doctor or nurse were to stab or jab themselves withone of these sharp instruments they would be at significant risk ofcontracting whatever diseases or pathogens the patient was carrying.

One surgical device which is of particular concern, and which presentsheightened risks, is a trocar. A trocar is an elongated, highlypolished, spear-like instrument that is typically utilized to createstab wounds through a patient's soft tissue. The trocar usually has atube or drain attached to one end, and a point on the other, so that thepointed end may be inserted into and advanced through the patient's softtissue in order to create a passageway for the tube, which then acts asa drain for fluids within the body cavity where a surgical procedure isto be performed. A variety of designs for the sharp points on the trocarare available, some with sharp ridges to cut flesh and others withconical pointed ends.

The drain tube is cut from the trocar after the trocar has advancedthrough the patient's soft tissue to create an opening. The drain tubeextends from the body, through the patient's soft tissue, and to areservoir outside the body to collect fluids. Surgical drain tubes areused in a wide variety of surgical procedures, and are typically madefrom soft materials such as plastics and rubbers.

Trocars have conventionally been inserted by hand by a doctor or nursewearing gloves. The trocar is usually inserted into the body cavity,forced through the patient's soft tissue by hand from within the cavity,and then grasped from the outside and advanced the remainder of the waythrough the tissue until only the hose is extending through the openingin the patient's soft tissue. Because the trocar is highly polished andthe environment in which it is used contains various fluids, it isdifficult for doctors and nurses to grasp the device to push or pull itthrough the patient's soft tissue. Furthermore, it is extremelydangerous to grasp the pointed end of the trocar when attempting toadvance it through the patient. Difficulties encountered while using thetrocar may also be dangerous to the patient because a slip or errorwhile doing so could cause unnecessary harm to the patient. Anotherconcern with trocar devices is their safe disposal after being used.Oftentimes, a trocar is covered in a patient's fluids after beinginserted through the patient's soft tissue, and by virtue of its sharppointed end continues to present a hazard when discarded. If improperlydisposed of, trocars will be a danger to anyone who subsequently handlesthem or comes in contact with them.

Several devices have been developed to assist in the insertion oftrocars during surgical procedures. These devices, disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 6,613,039 and U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0092891, includea holder mechanism for holding a trocar and a receiving mechanism forreceiving the trocar. In use, the holder mechanism is positioned in oradjacent to the internal cavity within the patient and the receivingmechanism is positioned on the exterior of the patient to receive thetrocar after it passes through the patient's soft tissue. These devices,while providing some safety advantages, are unnecessarily large andbulky, are awkward to use due to their size and shape, and requirecleaning and sanitization between uses to prevent contamination from onepatient to another.

Thus, it is believed that there is a need for an economical and easy touse safety device to assist health care professionals in using trocardevices, while also protecting them from possible contamination due topathogens carried by the patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Any one or more of the foregoing aspects of the present invention,together with the advantages thereof over known art relating to safetycaps for pointed objects which will become apparent from thespecification and drawings that follows, may be accomplished by theinvention as hereinafter described and claimed.

In general, the present invention provides a safety cap for use with atrocar that has a releasable locking mechanism and a permanent lockingmechanism.

One or more other aspects of the present invention may be achieved by asafety cap for use with a trocar, the cap including an opening in thecap adapted to receive a trocar therein, a releasable lock mechanismdisposed within the opening, and a permanent lock mechanism disposedwithin the opening. It will be appreciated that other embodiments of theinvention may not include a releasable lock mechanism disposed withinthe opening. In such a case, the trocar can simply be removed from thesafety cap without having to be unlocked.

The same or one or more other aspects of the present invention may beachieved by a trocar assembly including a trocar having a pointed end,and a safety cap, wherein the safety cap is removably secured on thepointed end of the trocar by a temporary lock mechanism and must beremoved prior to using the trocar, and wherein the safety cap is adaptedto be permanently secured over the pointed end of the trocar by apermanent lock mechanism after the trocar has been used.

Still one or more other aspects of the present invention may be achievedby a method of using a trocar including providing a pointed trocarhaving a safety cap over the pointed end and a tube attached to an endopposite the pointed end, removing the safety cap from the pointed endof the trocar, forcing the pointed end of the trocar through a patient'ssoft tissue, placing the safety cap over the pointed end of the trocarafter it becomes accessible on the exterior of the soft tissue,advancing the trocar through the patient's soft tissue by pulling on thesafety cap, cutting the hose adjacent to the trocar, and disposing ofthe trocar and safety cap, wherein the safety cap is permanently securedover the pointed end of the trocar after being placed thereon after thetrocar has passed through the patient's soft tissue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trocar safety cap assembly accordingto the concepts of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the trocar safety cap assemblyof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the trocar safety cap assembly takensubstantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 wherein the trocar is in areleasably locked position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the trocar safety cap assembly of FIG. 3in a released position.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the trocar safety cap assembly of FIG. 3in a permanently locked position.

FIG. 6 is sectional view of a trocar safety cap assembly having aremovable handle according to the concepts of a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the trocar safety cap assembly of FIG. 6with the handle removed.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a trocar safety cap assembly according tothe concepts of a third embodiment of the present invention wherein thetrocar is in a releasably locked position.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the trocar safety cap assembly of FIG. 8,wherein the safety cap is in a released position.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a trocar safety cap assembly according tothe concepts of a fourth embodiment of the present invention wherein thetrocar assembly is in a releasably locked position.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the trocar safety cap assembly of FIG. 9in a released position.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the trocar safety cap assembly of FIG. 9in a permanently locked position.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a trocar safety cap assembly according tothe concepts of a fifth embodiment of the present invention, wherein thetrocar is in a releasably locked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of the trocar safety cap assembly according to theconcepts of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-5 and is indicatedgenerally by the numeral 10. Trocar safety cap assembly 10 generallyincludes an adjustable body member, generally indicated by the numeral12, and a trocar-receiving sleeve, generally indicated by the numeral13. In at least one embodiment, the sleeve 13 is slidably engaged to thebody member 12, and together, the body member 12 and sleeve 13 operateto receive a trocar 14 and either releasably lock or permanently lockthe trocar safety cap assembly 10 onto the pointed end of the trocar 14.In one embodiment, the trocar 14 may be released and physicallyseparated from the trocar safety cap assembly 10 while in use, butrejoined to the trocar safety cap assembly 10 upon completion of its useas more specifically detailed below.

In at least one embodiment, the body member 12 of the trocar safety capassembly 10 is elongated and includes a body portion 15 and a neck 16extending therefrom. Body portion 15 may have any shape or configurationknown in the art, but should be adapted to be useful for its intendedpurpose. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, body portion 15 includes a generallycylindrical portion 17 with an extending flange 18 adapted to receivethe neck 16. Neck 16 has a smaller cross-sectional profile than theflange 18 of body portion 15 and is separated therefrom by a shoulder 19formed by the intersection of neck 16 and body portion 15. A bore 20 isdefined by the inside diameter of a wall 21 of neck 16 and extendsthrough neck 16 and at least partially through body member 12. Bodymember 12 may optionally include a handle or handles, such as arms 22extending from body portion 15. In one embodiment, handle 22 may extendradially from body portion 15. In another embodiment, handle 22 may bereleasable from body portion 15. Handle 22 may be of any size, shape orconfiguration known in the art but should be adapted to make holding andgripping the trocar safety cap assembly 10 easier for a user. As shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, handle 22 includes a pair of arms extending from bodymember 12.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, sleeve 13 of trocar safety cap assembly 10may be slidably positioned on neck 16 of body member 12. Moreparticularly, in the embodiment illustrated, sleeve 13 is provided witha trocar receiving portion 24 and a flange 25 extending therefrom. Thereceiving portion 24 may have any shape or configuration known in theart, but should be adapted to be useful for its intended purpose. Thereceiving portion 24 defines an opening 26 therein for receiving thetrocar 14. In one embodiment, the opening 26 is more particularlydefined by a wall 27 that is tapered to facilitate insertion of a trocar14, as will be discussed in greater detail below. At its narrowest,opening 26 should be large enough in diameter to allow the trocar 14 toeasily be received therethrough.

In the embodiment shown, flange 25 is generally cylindrical in shape anddefines an inner cavity 28 for receiving neck 16. Flange 25 may beprovided in any shape known in the art, but should be of a size andshape that is complementary to neck 16 such that neck 16 is slidablyreceived within flange 25. In an alternative embodiment, flange 25 maybe smaller in diameter than neck 16 and, as such, may be slidablyreceived within neck 16. As best seen in FIGS. 3-5, flange 25 has aninner diameter that is approximately equal to but slightly greater thanthe outer diameter of neck 16, thereby allowing flange 25 to beslidingly received on neck 16. Flange 25 is aligned coaxially on neck 16such that bore 20, opening 26 and inner cavity 28 are coaxial with oneanother. Shoulder 19 may act as a stop in one direction to preventfurther sliding of sleeve 13 in that direction.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a releasable locking mechanism, generallyindicated by the numeral 30, is disposed within trocar safety capassembly 10. In the embodiment illustrated, releasable locking mechanism30 includes a first annular washer 32, a second annular washer 33, and aspring 34. As with most washers, both first washer 32 and second washer33 have an aperture 35 and 36 therethrough, respectively. Spring 34 hasan outer diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of washers32 and 33 and is generally aligned with the washers 32, 33. As moreparticularly shown in FIG. 3, first washer 32 is received coaxially inbore 20 of neck 16 and is retained in place by a lip 38 within bore 20where the inner diameter of bore 20 decreases in size. Spring 34 isaligned coaxially with first washer 32 and within bore 20 with one endof the elongated spring positioned adjacent to and in contact with firstwasher 32. Second washer 33 is positioned such that its center withinaperture 36 lies on an axis with first washer 32 and spring 34 withinbore 20 or inner cavity 28, and is adjacent to and in at least partialcontact with an end of spring 34 opposite the first washer 32, but, asshall be described, second washer 33 is not necessarily coaxial with thespring 34 and first washer 32. Nevertheless, spring 34 is “sandwiched”between washers 32 and 33 within bore 20.

As best shown in FIG. 2, wall 21 of neck 16 of body member 12 isprovided with a slot 39 extending longitudinally from the end of wall 21distal to the body portion 15 for a distance less than the full lengthof neck 16. A first projection 40 is provided through aprojection-receiving aperture 41 in neck 16 such that at least a portionof the projection extends into bore 20 diametrically opposite of slot39. A portion of first projection 40 also extends outward from neck 16and

First projection 40 may be secured within neck 16 by any method known tothose skilled in the art, such as, for example, by using a cylindricalrod press fit into the projection-receiving aperture 41 within neck 16,or, for example, by using a threaded screw to thread the screw into athreaded aperture 41 in neck 16. First project 40 is accessible fromoutside of sleeve 13 because sleeve 13 includes a slot 42 within flange25. That is, flange 25 includes a slot 42 extending longitudinally for adistance less than the full length of flange 25.

A second projection 44 is provided through a second projection-receivingaperture 45 in sleeve 13 such that at least a portion of that protectionextends within inner cavity 28 diametrically opposite of slot 42. Thissecond projection 44 may be secured within sleeve 13 by any method knownto those skilled in the art, such as, again, by using a cylindrical rodpress fit into the second projection-receiving aperture 45 within flange25, or, for example, by using a threaded screw to thread the screw intoa threaded aperture 45 in flange 25.

Thus, when assembled, first projection 40 is received within slot 42 onsleeve 13, and second projection 44 is received in slot 39 in neck 16.The interaction of the projections and slots act to secure sleeve 13 toneck 16 while also controlling and restricting the movement of sleeve 13relative to body member 12.

A permanent locking mechanism, generally denoted by the numeral 46, mayalso be provided within bore 20, and is generally distal from the trocarreceiving opening 26 of the safety cap assembly 10, as compared to thereleasable locking mechanism 30. The permanent locking mechanism 46 maybe adjacent to and in contact with a second lip 48 defined by anotherdecrease in the diameter of bore 20, and therefore, may be coaxial withthe first washer 32 and spring 34 of the releaseable locking mechanism30. It will be appreciated that permanent locking mechanism 46 may beany mechanism known to persons skilled in the art that is capable ofpermanently securing a narrow rod-like article, such as a trocar,therein. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-5, thepermanent locking mechanism 46 is a lock washer 47, as is well known inthe art. Lock washer 47 includes a solid outer annular portion 50 andinwardly extending teeth 52. Teeth 52 are capable of deflecting and whendeflected act to secure a trocar within safety cap 10, as will bediscussed in greater detail below.

With reference now to FIG. 3, a trocar 14 with a pointed end 54 is shownreleasably secured within safety cap 10 by releasable locking mechanism30. Trocar 14 is positioned within apertures 35 and 36 of first andsecond washers 32 and 33, respectively, and within spring 34. In theunactuated state of FIG. 3 second washer 33 is biased by spring 34 suchthat it is not coaxial with the first washer 32 or spring 34. In thismanner, second washer presses on first projection 40 of neck 16 andsecond projection 44 of sleeve 13. Second projection 44, andconsequently sleeve 13, is pressed by spring 34 in the directionopposite of first washer 32 as far as allowed by slot 42. Due to theplacement of first projection 40, which is closer to first washer 32than second projection 44, second washer 33 is angled relative to firstwasher 32 when safety cap assembly 10 is in an unactuated state. Theangle of second washer 33 effectively reduces the size of aperture 36,causing it to contact and engage trocar 14 and prevent it from beingpulled out of safety cap assembly 10. That is, the bias pressure ofspring 34 that acts upon second washer 33, together with the fact thatfirst and second projections 40 and 44 are not aligned opposite eachother, causes the second washer 33 to turn at an angle and effectivelyhold the trocar 14 in place within the safety cap assembly 10.

Based upon the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, trocar 14 may be removed fromsafety cap assembly 10 as shown in FIG. 4. When sleeve 13 is pressedtowards handle 22 of body member 12 (or vice versa), second projection44 slides within slot 39 and first projection 40 slides within slot 42,until the first and second projections 40 and 44 are substantiallyaligned with each other. This movement of the first and secondprojections 40, 44 allows second washer 33 to turn from its irregularangle so as to be aligned and substantially coaxial with the firstwasher 32. In other words, pressing the sleeve 13 and body member 12together will act to compress the spring 34 and bring the projections40, 44 into alignment. When safety cap assembly 10 is fully compressedas far as first projection 40 and slot 42 will permit, second washer 33is substantially parallel and coaxial to first washer 32, therebyeffectively increasing the size of aperture 36 of the second washer 33.Thus, the compressing of safety cap assembly 10 by pressing sleeve 13and body member 12 together actuates release lock mechanism 30 torelease trocar 14 and allow it to be pulled out. When trocar 14 isremoved and sleeve 13 is released, safety cap assembly 10 returns to anunactuated state by virtue of the biasing force of spring 34. Trocar 14may be provided to medical personal having safety cap assembly 10already positioned thereon, cap assembly 10 being removed from trocar 14prior to its use.

With reference to FIG. 5, trocar 14 is shown permanently secured withinsafety cap assembly 10. After trocar 14 has been inserted through apatient's soft tissue so that the pointed end 54 is visible, it isreinserted into safety cap assembly 10 so that pointed end 54 is coveredand poses no danger to the surgeons or the patient. Trocar 14 is pushedinto cap assembly 10 through trocar receiving opening 26 and into innercavity 28 and, further, through bore 20 until it passes throughpermanent lock mechanism 46, which in this case is a lock washer 47. Astrocar 14 passes through lock washer 47, teeth 52 deflect in thedirection of travel and then engage trocar 14 to prevent movement in theopposite direction. In this way, trocar 14 is permanently secured withinsafety cap assembly 10 once the trocar is fully inserted so that itpasses through lock washer 47. Once trocar 14 is permanently secured insafety cap assembly 10, handle 22 may be used to assist in advancing itthe rest of the way through the patient's soft tissue. Trocar 14 maythen be disposed of with safety cap assembly 10 permanently lockedthereon, preventing anyone from being exposed to pointed end 54, whichis now covered in the patient's fluids.

Although the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5 is one embodiment for asafety cap assembly 10 of the present invention, it will be appreciatedthat other embodiment may exist without detracting from the scope of thepresent invention. Thus, it will be understand that other embodimentexist and, in particular, the releasable locking mechanism and thepermanent locking mechanisms disclosed above are not viable mechanismembodiments that can be used in the present invention to provide safedisposal of a trocar.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict an alternative embodiment of the safety capassembly of the present invention, generally referred to by the numeral110, that is identical to the first embodiment discussed above exceptfor an alternate handle design. Safety cap assembly 110 includes a bodymember 112 with body portion 115 and a neck 116, and a sleeve 113slidably positioned on the neck 116. Safety cap assembly 110 alsoincludes a releasable locking mechanism 130 and a permanent lockingmechanism 146. Unlike in the first embodiment of the invention, bodymember 112 also includes a handle bore 123 extending partiallytherethrough in an end opposite sleeve 113. Handle bore 123 includes anannular recess 155 therein for receiving knobs of a handle post asdescribed herein.

A removable handle 122 is provided having a gripping portion 160, a post162, and a pushbutton 164. Post 162 may be secured within an aperture(not shown) in gripping portion 160 by any method known to those skilledin the art. Post 162 includes a pair of depressible knobs 165 and 166which are biased outwardly from post 162, but which may retreat into thepost 162 when pushbutton 164 is pressed and a force acts upon them. Whenpost 162 and knobs 165 and 166 are inserted into handle bore 123, knobs165, 166 are received in annular recess 155 to prevent removable handle122 from being removed from handle bore 123, as is well known in theart. Although a specific mechanism for securing handle 122 in bodymember 112 of safety cap assembly 110 is described and shown in FIGS. 6and 7, it should be appreciated that any known mechanism for releasablysecuring a handle to the safety cap may be used without deviating fromthe scope of the present invention. Removable handle 122 may be reusedwith a plurality of safety caps 110, thereby reducing manufacturingcosts and preventing material waste.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a third embodiment of the safety cap assembly of thepresent invention, this one being generally indicated by the numeral 210and including an alternate releasable locking mechanism. Safety capassembly 210 includes a body member 212 with a neck 216, and a sleeve213 slidably positioned on neck 216. A bore 220 is provided through neck216 and into body member 212. Sleeve 213 defines an inner cavity 228 andincludes a first opening 226 opposite body member 212. The inner cavity228 receives neck 216 of body member 212. First opening 226 may have atapered surface 227 to facilitate receipt of a trocar. Openings 220 andinner cavity 228 are elongated and positioned coaxially with bore 220when sleeve 213 is positioned on neck 216, so that cap assembly 210 isadapted to receive a trocar 214 therein. Safety cap assembly 210includes a releasable locking mechanism 230 and a permanent lockingmechanism 246.

In this embodiment, neck 216 of body member 212 is provided with a pairof ball pockets 270 that provide an opening from the exterior of neck216 into bore 220 within neck 216. Pockets 270 may be cylindrical inshape, and may be positioned so that they have a cross-sectional profilesubstantially perpendicular to the cross-sectional profile of bore 220.Sleeve 213 is provided with an annular recess 272 extending frominternal cavity 228 into sleeve 213. Annular recess 272 may have a widthapproximately equal to the diameter of pockets 270. Trocar 214 isprovided with an annular depression 274 therein, the depression having aconcave radius. A ball 276 is provided within each ball pocket 270.Balls 276 have a radius approximately equal to but less than theradiuses of ball pockets 270 and annular depression 274, and the widthof annular recess 272. Balls 276 may be retained within ball pockets 270and prevented from falling into bore 220 by any method known to thoseskilled in the art, such as, for example, by providing a flange or lipextending into pockets 270 adjacent bore 220 so that balls 276 areprevented from escaping pockets 270.

When safety cap assembly 210 is in an unactuated position, or anextended position as seen in FIG. 8, annular recess 272 and ball pockets270 are not aligned, so balls 276 are retained within pockets 270 andprotrude slightly into bore 220. If trocar 214 is positioned thereinwith annular depression 274 aligned with pockets 270, balls 276 will bereceived in depression 274. Trocar 214 cannot be removed from safety capassembly 210 while balls 276 are received in depression 274. When sleeve213 is pressed toward body member 212 on neck 216, as seen in FIG. 9,annular recess 272 moves into alignment with ball pockets 270, allowingballs 276 to move out of and away from annular depression 274. Trocar214 may then be removed from safety cap assembly 210 before allowingsleeve 213 to return to its unactuated state. It may also be necessaryto press sleeve 213 toward body member 212, thereby aligning annularrecess 272 with ball pockets 270, when inserting trocar 214 into safetycap assembly 210 through opening 226.

A fourth embodiment of the safety cap assembly according to the conceptsof the present invention is shown in FIGS. 10-12, and is indicatedgenerally by the numeral 310. Safety cap assembly 310 is similar tosafety cap assembly 10 of the first embodiment, and includes a bodymember 312. However, instead of a neck, the safety cap assembly 310includes a pair of posts 316 extending from body member 312, and asleeve 313 with a pair of holes 323 slidably positioned on posts 316. Abore 320 passes through sleeve 313 and into body member 312, with anopening 320 on an end of sleeve 313 opposite body member 312. Opening320 may have a tapered surface 327 to facilitate insertion of a trocar314. A permanent locking mechanism 346, such as a lock washer 347, likethat disclosed in the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS.1-5, is positioned within bore 320 in body member 312.

A releasable locking mechanism 330 is provided in sleeve 313. Releasablelocking mechanism 330 includes a pair of pivoting arms 340, 342positioned on pivot pins 341, 343, respectively. Arms 340, 342 areprovided in an internal cavity 328 within sleeve 313 that provides spaceto allow arms 340, 342 to rotate about pivot pins 341, 343,respectively. Internal cavity 328 is partially open to holes 323 and tobore 320 such that a portion of arms 340, 342 can extend into holes 323,and an opposite portion can extend into bore 320. When trocar 314 isinserted into bore 320 through opening 326, arms 340, 342 are forced torotate in the direction of insertion when contacted by trocar 314. Iftrocar 314 is pulled in the opposite direction to be removed, arms 340,342 engage and grab trocar 314 and prevent its removal, as best seen inFIG. 10. To release trocar 314, sleeve 313 is moved toward body member312 on posts 316, as seen in FIG. 11, causing posts 316 to contact arms340, 342. When arms 340, 342 are contacted by posts 316 moving intoholes 323, they rotate away from trocar 314 freeing it to be pulled outof bore 320. After trocar 314 has been inserted and advanced through apatient's soft tissue it may be reinserted fully into safety capassembly 310, thereby permanently securing it within safety cap 310 byvirtue of permanent locking mechanism 346 as seen in FIG. 12. Permanentlocking mechanism 346 is not unlike the locking mechanism presented inthe first embodiment of this invention.

A fifth alternate embodiment of a safety cap assembly according to theconcepts of the present invention is shown in FIG. 13 and is indicatedgenerally by the numeral 410. Safety cap assembly 410 includes a bodymember 412 having a finger shield 480 on one end and an internal cavity428 in an end opposite finger shield 480. Safety cap assembly 410 alsoincludes a pushbutton 464 slidably received within cavity 428. A bore420 extends through finger shield 480, body member 412 and partiallythrough pushbutton 464, and is adapted to receive a trocar 414. Fingershield 480 includes an annular flange 482 that fits around body member412 and a shield plate 484 that extends radially from body member 412.Safety cap assembly 410, like the other embodiments disclosed herein,includes a releasable locking mechanism 430 and a permanent lockingmechanism 446. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, permanent lockingmechanism 446 is a lock washer 447 and is identical to that disclosed inthe first embodiment and shown in FIGS. 1-5, and releasable lockingmechanism 430 is substantially the same as that described herein andshown in FIGS. 1-5. Releasable locking mechanism 430 includes a firstprojection 440, a second projection 444, a first slot 439 and a secondslot 442 that interrelate and operate as in the first embodiment.Releasable locking mechanism 430 also includes a first washer 432, asecond washer 433, and a spring 434 as previously described.

Pushbutton 464 includes a handle portion 422, which may be designed andshaped to fit comfortably in the palm of a user's hand. Safety capassembly 410 comes releasably locked on trocar 414. To release trocar414 for use, pushbutton 464 is pressed into internal cavity 428, therebycausing second projection 444 to move into axial alignment with firstprojection 440, causing second washer 433 to pivot and release trocar414. After trocar 414 has been inserted through a patient's soft tissue,safety cap assembly 410 is placed over it with finger shield 480 facingthe patient and protecting the user from being jabbed or cut. Fingershield 480 may optionally be made from a clear material, such as, forexample, a clear plastic, so that a user of safety cap 410 can seethrough shield 480 to allow for easier insertion of trocar 414 in safetycap assembly 410. Trocar 414 is then pressed fully into bore 420 andthrough lock washer 447, permanently securing safety cap assembly 410 ontrocar 414, and allowing a user to pull on handle portion 422 to advancetrocar 414 the rest of the way through the patient.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain embodiments, other embodiments are possible.Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not belimited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.

1. A safety cap for use with a trocar, the cap comprising: an opening inthe cap adapted to receive a trocar therein, a releasable lock mechanismdisposed within said opening, and a permanent lock mechanism disposedwithin said opening.
 2. The safety cap of claim 1, wherein said cap hasan elongated body with a bore extending partially therethrough, and asleeve cap defining an inner cavity and with an aperture in one end,said sleeve cap slidably positioned on one end of said elongated body,wherein said bore and said aperture are positioned on a common axis toform said opening in the cap.
 3. The safety cap of claim 2, wherein saidaperture includes a tapered surface to guide the trocar into saidopening in the cap.
 4. The safety cap of claim 2, wherein said elongatedbody includes a neck and a shoulder formed by the intersection of saidneck and said body, said sleeve cap being positioned on said neck, andsaid shoulder providing a stop in one direction for said slidablesleeve.
 5. The safety cap of claim 2, further comprising a handlepositioned on said elongated body on a side opposite said sleeve cap. 6.The safety cap of claim 5, wherein said handle is removably secured tosaid elongated body.
 7. The safety cap of claim 2, wherein said sleevecap includes an outwardly extending flange at an end opposite saidelongated body.
 8. The safety cap of claim 2, wherein said releasablelock mechanism is released by compressing said slidable sleeve captoward said elongated body.
 9. The safety cap of claim 1, wherein saidcap includes a body and a pushbutton, said body having an openingtherein and said pushbutton being slidably received in said opening insaid body.
 10. The safety cap of claim 9, further comprising a fingerguard extending radially from said body of said cap adjacent to saidopening in said cap.
 11. The safety cap of claim 10, wherein said fingerguard is made of a clear material, thereby making it see-through innature.
 12. The safety cap of claim 11, further comprising a biasingmechanism disposed within said body of said cap and acting to bias saidpushbutton in a direction away from said body.
 13. The safety cap ofclaim 12, wherein said pushbutton includes an ergonomically shapedhandle adapted to fit in a palm of a user.
 14. A trocar assemblycomprising a trocar having a pointed end, and a safety cap, wherein saidsafety cap is removably secured on said pointed end of said trocar by atemporary lock mechanism and must be removed prior to using said trocar,and wherein said safety cap is adapted to be permanently secured oversaid pointed end of said trocar by a permanent lock mechanism after saidtrocar has been used.
 15. The trocar assembly of claim 14, wherein saidsafety cap has an elongated body with a bore extending partiallytherethrough, and a sleeve cap defining an inner cavity and with anaperture in one end, said sleeve cap slidably positioned on one end ofsaid elongated body, wherein said bore and said aperture are positionedon a common axis to form said opening in the cap and are adapted toreceive said trocar therein.
 16. The trocar assembly of claim 15,wherein said aperture includes a tapered surface to guide the trocarinto said opening in the cap.
 17. The trocar assembly of claim 15,wherein said releasable lock mechanism is released by compressing saidslidable sleeve cap toward said elongated body.
 18. A method of using atrocar comprising: providing a pointed trocar having a safety cap overthe pointed end and a tube attached to an end opposite the pointed end,removing the safety cap from the pointed end of the trocar, forcing thepointed end of the trocar through a patient's soft tissue, placing thesafety cap over the pointed end of the trocar after it becomesaccessible on the exterior of the soft tissue, advancing the trocarthrough the patient's soft tissue by pulling on the safety cap, cuttingthe hose adjacent to the trocar, and disposing of the trocar and safetycap, wherein the safety cap is permanently secured over the pointed endof the trocar after being placed thereon after the trocar has passedthrough the patient's soft tissue.
 19. A safety cap for use with atrocar, the cap comprising: an opening in the cap adapted to receive atrocar therein, and a permanent lock mechanism disposed within saidopening.